My Work Using Genomics to Study Antimicrobial Resistance in Kenya
This includes research into drought-tolerant plants in agriculture and HIV vaccine development in medicine. A unique application of genomics in Kenya has been in efforts to stem wildlife poaching and trafficking. In this setting, molecular approaches are used to investigate semi-processed or physically indistinguishable wildlife products. For example, in my research I have used sequencing […]
Meet Peris Ambala, Molecular Virologist and Mawazo Scholar
Mawazo Scholar Peris Ambala authored the following blog post on her research as part of the global DNA Day celebrations. Learn more about DNA Day and the ‘15 for 15’ Celebration here. As a Ph.D. scholar and a young female scientist at the Institute of Primate Research Kenya, I am part of a group of […]
Applying Molecular Genetics to Study Zoonotic Viruses in Kenya
In the recent decade, dangerous human pathogenic viruses have emerged in different geographical locations within Africa, with outbreaks occurring almost annually. Majority of these viruses are zoonotic viruses, which means they can be transmitted directly from animals to humans. Bats, non-human primates, and rodents are known to harbor zoonotic viruses, which circulate silently in hosts. […]
Effective Budgeting for Research
There are three major principles of budgeting which shaped the guidelines. Explain your cost assumptions clearly. Funders want to see that you’ve come up with reasonable cost estimates. Documenting them clearly helps to establish the credibility of your estimates. Provide lots of detail about your activities and calculations. A budget doesn’t have to simply be […]
Bringing Science to the Public in Nairobi
This January, a team of physicists from NUI Galway visited the Mawazo Institute in Nairobi, with funding from the Virdee Grant. The Mawazo Institute is a non-profit research institute whose Mawazo Fellows program helps women launch their research careers by providing research funding, mentorship, and assistance in achieving public recognition for their work. The NUI Galway […]
Introducing the 2018 PhD Scholars!
Front row (left to right): Marilyn Ronoh, Mathematics, University of Nairobi Elizabeth Benson, Computer Science, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Teresiah Njihia, Agriculture, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Jacqueline Owigo, Political Science, United States International University Judith Koskey, Environmental Studies, Egerton University Back row (left to right): Winnie Nyamboki, Economics, University […]
Mawazo’s Core Principles
Intersectional approaches. Nearly all academics based in Africa — male and female — have access to fewer professional resources than their peers in the North. We strongly believe that all African scholars deserve more support. However, we were also struck by the fact that a large majority of university students and professors in Africa are […]
Welcome to the Mawazo Institute!
A bit of background: Mawazo was founded in late 2016 by Rose Mutiso and Rachel Strohm. We’ve known each other since our undergraduate days at Dartmouth College, where we got our start in African education activism by creating the Students for Africa association. In mid-2016, we realized that we were both looking for the next […]